A 27-year-old Florida man has been arrested after allegedly murdering two people inside his grandmother’s home, then trying to escape police by running across a highway, swimming through a canal, and climbing a tree.
Isaiah Collins now faces two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of 28-year-old Octavis Anthony Myers and 24-year-old Tiara Belizaire-Young.
The Grisly Discovery
On September 10, 2024, police and firefighters in Pembroke Pines responded to a 911 call about an “unconscious and unresponsive man” in a garage on NW 109 Avenue. When first responders arrived, they found Myers dead, noting he had been deceased “for some time.”
Inside the home, officers discovered Belizaire-Young’s body in a bedroom. Investigators confirmed both deaths were “criminal in nature,” though they have not yet released the exact cause of death.
From “Concern for Safety” to Murder Suspect
At first, police said they were searching for Collins out of concern for his wellbeing, since he often lived with his grandmother in the home where the murders took place. But within three days, investigators gathered evidence pointing to Collins himself as the killer.
The relationship between Collins and the two victims has not been publicly disclosed.
A Desperate Escape Attempt
Collins managed to avoid capture for several days until an off-duty Miami-Dade deputy spotted him in a Miami Gardens park on Sunday. When officers moved in, Collins tried to escape dramatically:
He ran across the Florida Turnpike.
Jumped into a canal and swam across.
Climbed a tree to evade capture.
Deputies said Collins refused to come down and made “erratic movements.” At one point, he gestured toward his waistband as if reaching for a weapon. A deputy then fired, hitting him in the arm.
Collins was airlifted to HCA Aventura Hospital in stable condition before being taken into custody.
Sheriff Explains Shooting
Miami-Dade Sheriff Christopher Carothers defended the deputy’s decision to fire. “There must’ve been something at the moment they realized non-compliance, and there was a reason for the deputy to fire,” he told reporters.
Charges and Next Steps
Along with two murder counts, Collins is expected to face additional charges linked to his attempted escape and confrontation with deputies. Authorities have not yet announced when his first court appearance will take place.
The arrest of Isaiah Collins has shaken the Pembroke Pines community, not only because of the brutal double killing but also the bizarre and dangerous attempt to flee law enforcement.
As investigators work to uncover the motive and connections between Collins and the victims, the case serves as another reminder of how violent crime can ripple through families and communities, leaving behind grief and unanswered questions.
